EAGLES: Oregon's Kelly is the Birds' top choice, says report

It’s that time of year, when the rumor mill runs amok. Especially for teams that typically aren’t going anywhere such as the Eagles.

The Cowboys have slightly more hope.

NFL Network analyst Mike Lombardi listed Kelly at the top of the list of head coaching candidates should the Eagles go in another direction from Andy Reid, which seems like a certainty.

The NFL candidates on the list all are offensive coordinators: Greg Roman (Niners), Rob Chudzinski (Panthers) and Mike McCoy (Broncos). Jon Gruden, the ESPN analyst, also is on the list. Other sources say Gruden will not be the Eagles’ next coach.

Lombardi called Chudzkinski the “sleeper” choice, and says Kelly, Gruden and Chudzinski also would be candidates at San Diego.

“Chip Kelly is going to be the number one guy,” Lombardi said. “He is the prettiest girl in the school.”.

l l lNOTES: Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox joined the Eagles here and started despite not playing a snap of practice all week due to a tailbone bruise and missing time to attend a funeral. … Former Eagle Jason Babin had four tackles but no sacks in Jacksonville’s 34-18 loss to Buffalo Sunday.